Good things come in small sizes. That is what the San Jose Earthquakes are hoping, at least.

The Earthquakes announced on Thursday that they have signed diminutive attacking midfielder Matias Perez Garcia to a Designated Player deal. The 5-foot-5 Perez Garcia, 29, joins the club after having last played for Club Atletico Tigre in his native Argentina.

“We’re very excited to sign Matias,” said Earthquakes head coach Mark Watson in a statement. “He adds a very experienced, technical attacking quality that will be a great complement to the squad we already have. We look forward to having him join the team.”

Perez Garcia has played for a number of clubs in various leagues throughout his professional career, which began in 2002. Some of the teams he has spent time at include Argentina outfit Lanus, French side Chamois Niortais FC, and Universidad de Chile.

He also previously represented Argentina at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels, playing alongside the likes of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez.

“It’s a monumental moment for the club,” said Earthquakes general manager John Doyle. “Matias is a dynamic, attacking player that will create chances for teammates as well as himself. I’m very excited to see the impact that he can have on this league for years to come.”

Perez Garcia becomes the third DP in Earthquakes’ history after Brazilian playmaker Geovanni and U.S. Men’s National Team forward Chris Wondolowski. Geovanni is no longer with the club, but Wondolowski is.

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What do you think of the Earthquakes signing Perez Garcia? Think his size could hinder his ability to make an impact in MLS? Do you see him helping the Earthquakes make a postseason push?

This seems like a bit of a stretch for a DP position. Hopefully this is a case where the scouts quickly prove fan perception wrong and he makes an immediate impact. Looking at his resume, though, doesn’t give too much hope.

This would be like a J-league team make Robbie Findley their highest paid player. Sure, Findley isn’t bad, but is he really worth that much money? Perhaps that analogy is a bit of a stretch… I don’t know.

I would say J-league is around the same level as MLS so that would be a lateral move. Seeing Findley is an average player MLS it’s tough to make to make that comparison with Garcia’s move to MLS. Argentina’s Primera is definitely better than MLS, I’d say.

Argentines are taking MLS by storm and they have one of the best DIVISION 2 in the world. Their division 1 is broken and has no money or big stars, besides boca juniors and river plate and some historic small teams.
That’s why boca junior is looking got ronaldinho
For example, in Mexico, the teams are looking for ecuador and Colombian players and some argentines.
So now the argentines are coming to MLS, no rocket science
Hopefully MLS can steal top players from Mexico and all South Americans come to MLS, that would make MLS big, then if you add the Europeans and Americans good stuff
As for San Jose, I feel bad for their fans. Bad name, bad ownership, and bad new crest.
Another thing, what’s so hard about MLS teams getting top talent from ligaMX and give them DP money.
Look at Marco Fabian, Castillo, torrado, guti Pena, pulido, they have many players that can attract fans and help MLS.

Like Guardado once said in an interview, he could be making twice as much money in Mexico than in Spain, but the level of play in Europe is better than Mexico. Mexican players are happy to stay home and still earn a really nice wage. Mexican teams are very wealthy and corrupt.

Not really, Europe pays way more than Mexico. Mexico pays way more than MLS.
But Mexico is trying to be like MLS, bring their older nationals home for Bradley type of money. The only teams that are loaded in mexico are chivas, America, Cruz azul, Monterrey rayados, Monterrey tigres and now Tijuana.
Then you have pachuca, Leon own by same owner that have good enough money, even Carlos slim owns part Leon and pachuca.

I don’t know him, but I like the general idea of MLS teams going after guys who are in their primes and played on the youth teams of international powerhouses but weren’t quite good enough to make the leap to the senior team. There’s a pretty good chance of getting some technical quality at least that way.

Remember that his salary may not be a DP salary because in the 1st year MLS also includes the transfer fee paid in determining his DP status. If San Jose paid $250,000, then his salary would only need to be high enough to make the combined total fall into DP category. This is why Saborio on RSL was a DP in his 1st year in MLS.

Watching the chivas vs BM game should remember MLS and any market about getting a top mexican player, as a DP would be magic for the mexican fans.
Imagine chicharito in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas. After World Cup Russia 2018 I see chicharito, Giovanni, Ochoa coming to MLS but I think the olde they get, it’s not the same as an international star like Lampard or villa or Beckham.
I think a mexican loses profit and star power when they should come to MLS around 27 and up, not play hardball and wait. For instance, chicharito, Giovanni, guardado.

highest paid player in Mexico makes 2.5 million dollars which is like 28 million pesos. Most of the top mexican players make around 1 million dollars. their salary cap must be like probably 10-12 million dollars (just a guess). MLS clubs are nearly 3 million. Need to have that doubled by 2020 if we really wanna compete. Perhaps even do without a salary cap by 2025-2030.

Don’t think Mexico has a salary cap. I remember a manager in the MLS a couple of years ago, after losing in the Champions League, complaining that some Mexican teams have a player payroll of $20 million. Could have just been exaggerated to cover his behind, though.

Some Mexican Clubs spend between 5-10 million. There’s also some like Club American and Guadalajara that spend about 20 million. If MLS had the same contract from Univision as MFL, then MLS could have the same budgets.

amazed that Mexican players make so much at home that they don’t even try going to europe. then again the average Mexican is maybe 5’6. the average european is 5’11. average european footballer might be 6’1. Mexicans would be outclassed physically in europe.

As matter if fact, their new generations are taller. This World Cup that Mexico took could have been taller but the coach went for average size mexican players.
That was the talk in the mexican press, that the coach took average mexican size players compare to what they have now.
Most of the new generation of mexican players are like 6′ average.
Look at Ochoa the goalkeeper, their defense is pretty big, their future fowards have size as well, mostly all the team will look different by 2018.

Can’t wait to watch him play, hopefully he gets some minutes against Seattle. It will be interesting to see where we play him…underneath the forwards or out wide…finally some attacking talent to give us some options.